Postcard from Nepal – Mount Kailash

Bruce Louis Dodson is an American expat living in Borlänge, Sweden, where he writes fiction and poetry. Some of his most recent work has appeared in: Foreign & Far Away – Writers Abroad Anthology,Sleeping Cat Books – Trip of a Lifetime Anthology, Northern Liberties Review, Pirene’s Fountain, Tic Toc, and Storm Cycle Anthologies - Kind of a Hurricane Press, Vine Leaves, and Cordite Poetry Review.

An evocative poem that’s more like a prayer to Lord Shiva, by Bruce, for Different Truths.

The climb is more than is imaginedHigher than the Sherpas dare to goThey say goodbye with friendly curiosity: “Is life not hard enough?” “Why why would you climb to Shiva’s feet?” “There’s nothing there.” “It’s just more dirt.”

The air is clearAlone for this brief momentFree at lastAbove the tree lineStorm clouds fall away revealEarth’s horizon curveAcross a continent of jagged edges.

One can find no higher ground than thisOn earthAbove the vast suburban sprawlI do aspire to wakenFrom the dream of flesh and bloodNo longer called upon to walkAmidst the carnival of livingShiva dancing on the streetsAs long as life . . . and deathTo summitInto peace that passes understanding.

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